It seems like it's been months since the last MC (which in fact it is :doh: ), so glad to see this mouthwatering draw;

http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt...07/1536/mds.pdf

Nadal is really unlucky this time; horrible draw for him with possible opponants like Stephanek, Berdych, Djoko before even getting to the final.
Fed really should have no problems to get there although he's off court for some time.
Djoko showed in Vienna his form's still there and is according the bookies -if i'm not mistaken for the first time in a tourney where both Fed and Nadal are playing- second favourite

Personally i'm looking forward to a Fed-Canas encounter..

Well, a very good draw for fed. he's got Canas, Ljubicic and Ferrer in his quarter, none of whom should trouble him. The other quarter looks much more interesting with Gonzo, Haas, Davydenko and Youhzny - although, i'm not entirely sure any of those will give fed much grief - although that will depend on how long it takes him to get going again.

In the other half, well, i don't know that Djoko has the easiest road to the semis - he's got Moya, who always has the potential to surprise, and then either gasquet or Blake (which will be a very interesting match i expect......). Nadal has Baghdatis, and most likely Stepanek to face, with a possible meeting with berdych after that, although i notice nalbandian is unseeded and in his quarter - always a danger man.

A few interesting first round matches:

Safin vs Karlovic :doh:
Murray vs Stepanek - i think i would have to predict the scot "crashing out" here....

oh, and Ancic has returned - could play Blake in the second round :ok:

Excellent avatar GP. Like him, I am still crying (but I can honestly say i am better looking).

Looks like there is plenty of excitement in all the quarters. Granted, Fed's quarter doesn't look the strongest it could be, but of the 5-8 seeds, I don't think Ferrer is a weaker opponent for Roger than the others - Gonzo, Blake, Ferrer and Robredo.

(Where is Roddick, by the way? :shrug:)

Of the remaining seeds, Canas may not be the most dangerous in general, but he may well be the most dangerous for Roger - at least he's the only one whom Roger has lost his last two meetings to. In fact, other than Nadal he's the only seed (perhaps the only other player in the tournament) who has a positive h2h against Roger. I'll agree that the non-seeds in Roger's quarter aren't the most awe-inspiring bunch though. Decent enough players, as you would expect in a MS, but nothing more I would say.

Nadal has caught quite a challenging draw, with lots of good unseeded players; Baggy, Murray and Stepanek in his eigth of the draw alone. However, maybe this will play to his advantage, as some of the less reliable seeds in his quarter might be upset by someone who is just as likely to be flat in the next match. We'll see. :shrug:

If he and Berdych both reach the quarters, that should be an interesting match --- didn't Berdy take him out last year in Madrid, with a bit of controversy? That should spice things up a bit ... :)

Djokovic should reach the quarters fairly easily, might face a difficult QF but should really get through to the semis based on recent form. Davydenko might well get through to another semi, but (as usual, I guess) his quarter seems to be the most open of the four.


Oh, apparently Roddick has a knee injury. Hewitt apparently has also withdrawn because of ankle problems. It must be the end of the season again ... :rolleyes:

Looking at this draw, it looks like the organisers have carefully placed the players in such a way to get interesting match up in the 16th and quarters:

Federer / Canas; Berdych/Nadal; Djoko v Blake or gasquet; and Haas v Gonzo trying to sort it out for Shangai.

I wonder whether the Nadal n Berdych draw is a coincidence or just a nice way to keep the crowd interested!

Does anyone else find the pictures of Fed, Nadal and Djoko as terracotta warriors on the ATP site rather terrifying???? :blink:

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/home/

:peek:

(I also find GPs avatar fairly terrifying too........ :unsure: )

Actually with their rackets in hands - instead of swords- I find them closer to ridiculous than scary. ;)

But you need to remember that the terracotta army did not just consist of 'warriors' - there were plenty of people there for the late emperor's entertainment; musicians, weight lifters, ...

So if the old Chinese had played tennis ... there might well have been some tennis players down there as well ... ;)



That being said - maybe you're right, and they are just a tad ridiculous. :P

Good. I did not know.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good idea to make those statues as they qualify.

I think it's something to do with the Federer one.....there's something seriously wrong with his face...... :blink:

:)
out of mercy, i changed my avatar (temporarily). I really felt sorry for the caveman. He was a few inches away from that decisive try and like i said before; it would have been great to see one of today's most charismatic sportmen holding the trophy.

Well T, let the ladies be the judge of that :P

Ancic won through today :clap:

I see Nadal is playing doubles. Is it a wise decision, giving him some extra match practice, or is it folly considering that he might have to play 5 matches in 5 days anyway?

He's playing with Lopez - they won't get far ;)

Only too true --- they went out in a "match tiebreak" today. Even so, is it an extra match he didn't really need to play?


I just saw that Davydenko has had to withdraw from Madrid because of an elbow injury. :wacko:

haas lost :( and lates davydenko :wave:

Before the gambling incident Davudenko would have probably played and grabbed the invitation fee and first round loser price but now he is so scared of being labelled a cheat or a fixer that he prefers withdrawing the proper way. :unsure:

I dunno - Nadal plays doubles fairly frequently, and I would guess that being as this is a Spanish tournament, Nadal may have felt fairly obliged to give the fans an extra chance to see him maybe?

oooh - some great matches today :D

Federer vs. Canas
Murray vs Nadal

- they've got to be the highlights, but there's some other good matches

Djoko vs. JCF
Ancic vs. PHM
Nalby vs. Del Potro

And Gonzo in action against Monaco - trying to boost his chances of qualifying for Shanghai.

Oh, and Jamie Murray is playing doubles today

:clap: